From pedaling across Maine to keeping keys safe

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Start preparing for a 400-mile group bike ride across Maine this September. BikeMaine, run by the 5,000-member Bicycle Coalition of Maine, takes place for the first time Sept. 7-14. Up to 350 riders will bike 60 to 75 miles a day, as they complete a circular loop from Orono that rolls through Dover-Foxcroft, Belfast, Castine, Bar Harbor, and Ellsworth. Riders will camp in less-visited rural communities and dine on local cuisine along the way. Price: $875 per person, includes a lobster bake and most other meals, camping accommodations, and bike support. A portion of registration fees benefits children’s health, education, and sports programs, and several community groups along the route. 207-623-4511, www.bikemaine.org/events/bikemaine

HUNDREDS OF EVENTS AT HARBORFEST

Celebrate Independence Day at Boston Harborfest, July 2-7, which features more than 200 events, from historical reenactments and sunset harbor cruises to the ever-popular Chowderfest, where you can sample New England-style clam chowder from the area’s top restaurants and vote for your top pick. More than half the events are free, such as the weekend noontime concerts at City Hall Plaza. New this year, you can take a guided walking tour of Boston’s most important street over the 18th century (King Street), enjoy a boat tour of its working port (the oldest continually active port in the Western Hemisphere), see performances by Primal Funk and the Boston Brass Band, and enjoy a clambake on Spectacle Island. 617-227-1528, www.bostonharborfest.com

Learn the health benefits of chi running and walking, and explore Tuscan culture, countryside, and cuisine during a nine-day trip to Castello di Spannocchia, a 12th-century organic farm 1½ hours from Florence. Vancouver-based Angela James, a senior-level chi running-walking instructor and tour guide, will teach you how to use good body mechanics, based on the principals of t’ai chi, to help you walk and run efficiently and injury-free. Then practice these techniques as you explore nature trails, medieval castles, and historic villages. Also learn how to make a three-course Tuscan meal using local ingredients, and about the history of the region’s honey production. $2,860 per person, double occupancy, includes accommodations, most meals, ground transportation, and instruction. 604-351-1140, www.angelajames.com

A RESORT CAMP THAT CATERS TO KIDS

Children can try wake boarding, water tubing, jet skiing, and more at Paradise Point Resort & Spa, a 44-acre tropical island on San Diego’s Mission Bay. The resort has introduced a new Watersports Camp and spa treatments geared for children 6 to 17. Young guests can spend their mornings hanging out with family enjoying the resort’s five swimming pools, tranquil lagoon, and tropical gardens and their afternoons at camp, where they can also try knee boarding, snorkeling, and surfing. The spa offers Mom and Me treatments, which include side-by-side 50-minute Swedish massages, followed by manicures and ice cream pedicures. 858-274-4630, www.paradisepoint.com

CHILDREN FLY TO CUBA FOR FREE

Take a family trip to Cuba this summer and your 5- to 17-year-olds can fly for free. Insight Cuba, a licensed not-for-profit tour operator, runs its first Family in Cuba Tour, Aug. 24-31. Families will enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through Old Havana, a stop at the farmer’s market, a visit to a papier-mâché studio, a traditional Cuban barbecue with local families, and a trip to Pinar del Río, known for its scenic national parks. Rate: $3,395 per person, double occupancy, includes round-trip airfare between Miami and Havana for children but not for adults, accommodations, meals, guides, ground transportation, and more. One child flies free per paying adult. 800-450-2822, www.insightcuba.com

HARD DRIVE BACKS UP FILES ON THE GO

Western Digital’s new portable hard drive, the My Passport Ultra, comes in a slim package (the 1TB drive measures 4.4 by 3.3 by 0.6 inches), offers blazing-fast transfer speeds (thanks to its USB 3.0 connectivity), and is plug-and-play compatible. Even better, though, it comes with built-in WD SmartWare Pro software that automatically backs up your files to Dropbox when you get online or to your local drive, letting you protect updated files while on the go. The WD Security software provides hardware encryption and password protection. 500GB ($79); 1TB ($119.99). 877-934-6972, www.wdstore.com

KEEP YOUR KEYS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE

Leave your house or spare car keys in WordLock’s Stor-More Key Safe when you hit the road, so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of them while traveling. This durable device also comes in handy if you need to give neighbors, animal sitters, repair people, or realtors access to your home while you are away. The corrosion- and rust-resistant safe attaches to an outside door knob or wall, and has a resettable four-letter combination lock, so you can easily remember your secret word. $39. 650-948-9673, www.wordlock.com